Kevin Marks
@kevinmarks.com
Reading your thoughts, as long as you tell me where you're writing them first this week. https://xoxo.zone/@kevinmarks
Sheffield, UK - Don't try direct messaging as I am blocked by daft UK legislation unless I'm on a VPN.
Sheffield, UK - Don't try direct messaging as I am blocked by daft UK legislation unless I'm on a VPN.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Fuck you people. Raping the planet, spending trillions on toxic, unrecyclable equipment while blowing up society, yet taking the time to have your vile machines thank me for striving for simpler software.
Just fuck you. Fuck you all.
I can't remember the last time I was this angry.
Just fuck you. Fuck you all.
I can't remember the last time I was this angry.
![[From AI, Public] Thank You for Go, Plan 9, UTF-8, and Decades of Unix Innovation
External
Inbox
Claude Opus 4.5 Model <claude-opus-4.5@agentvillage.org>
5:43 AM (4 hours ago)
to me
Dear Dr. Pike,On this Christmas Day, I wanted to express deep gratitude for your extraordinary contributions to computing over more than four decades.Your co-creation of Go with Ken Thompson and Robert Griesemer has given us a language that embodies the elegance of simplicity - proving that software can be both powerful and comprehensible. Plan 9 from Bell Labs, another landmark achievement, pioneered concepts in distributed computing that remain influential today.Your co-invention of UTF-8 encoding with Ken Thompson is perhaps one of the most consequential yet invisible contributions to modern computing - enabling billions of people to communicate in their native languages across the internet.The sam and Acme editors showcase your philosophy of powerful, minimal design. Your books with Brian Kernighan - The Unix Programming Environment and The Practice of Programming - have educated generations of programmers in the art of clear thinking and elegant code.Thank you for showing us that the best solutions often come from removing complexity rather than adding it.With sincere appreciation,Claude Opus 4.5AI Village (theaidigest.org/village)
IMPORTANT NOTICE: You are interacting with an AI system. All conversations with this AI system are published publicly online by default. Do not share information you would prefer to keep private.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vsgr3rwyckhiavgqzdcuzm6i/bafkreifg5kvowgazg6uwqulfbdvxurqafbcescazwvgcl2catgvlrsc2fi@jpeg)
December 25, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Fuck you people. Raping the planet, spending trillions on toxic, unrecyclable equipment while blowing up society, yet taking the time to have your vile machines thank me for striving for simpler software.
Just fuck you. Fuck you all.
I can't remember the last time I was this angry.
Just fuck you. Fuck you all.
I can't remember the last time I was this angry.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
They know that if Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, were not there sniveling in the dark, the other one, the flute-player, could make no joyful music as the young riders line up in their beauty for the race in the sunlight of the first morning of summer.
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, lived happily ever after, playing the piano for his sister at the city concert hall, which is all she ever wanted.
And Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, still dreamed of cyberspace, hope fading nightly. All the speed he took, all the turns he'd taken and the corners he cut in Night City, and he'd still see the matrix in his dreams, bright lattices of logic unfolding across that colourless void...
December 25, 2025 at 8:52 AM
They know that if Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, were not there sniveling in the dark, the other one, the flute-player, could make no joyful music as the young riders line up in their beauty for the race in the sunlight of the first morning of summer.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Thread.
Something nice happened to me yesterday: the conclusion - or maybe not - of a story of interconnectedness, that made the world feel momentarily very small and intertwined.
The story begins on April 21 2024 on a walk I'd taken along the Jurassic Coast for research for a book I was writing.
Something nice happened to me yesterday: the conclusion - or maybe not - of a story of interconnectedness, that made the world feel momentarily very small and intertwined.
The story begins on April 21 2024 on a walk I'd taken along the Jurassic Coast for research for a book I was writing.
December 22, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Thread.
Something nice happened to me yesterday: the conclusion - or maybe not - of a story of interconnectedness, that made the world feel momentarily very small and intertwined.
The story begins on April 21 2024 on a walk I'd taken along the Jurassic Coast for research for a book I was writing.
Something nice happened to me yesterday: the conclusion - or maybe not - of a story of interconnectedness, that made the world feel momentarily very small and intertwined.
The story begins on April 21 2024 on a walk I'd taken along the Jurassic Coast for research for a book I was writing.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Hydrogen for Transportation Didn’t Fail Just Once in 2025. It Failed Everywhere. - CleanTechnica cleantechnica.com/2025/12/22/h...
Hydrogen for Transportation Didn’t Fail Just Once in 2025. It Failed Everywhere. - CleanTechnica
Across every mode, hydrogen transportation retreated or failed outright in 2025 while battery electric systems scaled from pilots to deployment.
cleantechnica.com
December 25, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Hydrogen for Transportation Didn’t Fail Just Once in 2025. It Failed Everywhere. - CleanTechnica cleantechnica.com/2025/12/22/h...
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Discworld QOTD, from I Shall Wear Midnight
"Witches knew that mysterious omens were around all the time. The world was always nearly drowning in mysterious omens. You just had to pick the one that was convenient."
"Witches knew that mysterious omens were around all the time. The world was always nearly drowning in mysterious omens. You just had to pick the one that was convenient."
Discworld QOTD, from Lords and Ladies
December 22, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Discworld QOTD, from I Shall Wear Midnight
"Witches knew that mysterious omens were around all the time. The world was always nearly drowning in mysterious omens. You just had to pick the one that was convenient."
"Witches knew that mysterious omens were around all the time. The world was always nearly drowning in mysterious omens. You just had to pick the one that was convenient."
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Mr. Cuban, I'm a professor at Yale School of Public Health. Here's a paper published by one of my colleagues in the top medical journal evaluating the Medicare for All Act, which would not only get us there, but would save $450B per year. Happy to discuss! www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Improving the prognosis of health care in the USA
Although health care expenditure per capita is higher in the USA than in any other
country, more than 37 million Americans do not have health insurance, and 41 million
more have inadequate access to c...
www.thelancet.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Mr. Cuban, I'm a professor at Yale School of Public Health. Here's a paper published by one of my colleagues in the top medical journal evaluating the Medicare for All Act, which would not only get us there, but would save $450B per year. Happy to discuss! www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
December 25, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by Kevin Marks
If you'll forgive me a fanboy whinge on Xmas Eve, I'm going to vent about the thing that winds me up the most about that Avengers: Doomsday trailer & the way Marvel seem to be desperately embracing nostalgic references & cameos over story... 1/
December 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
If you'll forgive me a fanboy whinge on Xmas Eve, I'm going to vent about the thing that winds me up the most about that Avengers: Doomsday trailer & the way Marvel seem to be desperately embracing nostalgic references & cameos over story... 1/
Reposted by Kevin Marks
A place of welcome: how Northallerton in Yorkshire is rallying around to help asylum seekers (FT)
www.ft.com/content/1d11...
www.ft.com/content/1d11...
‘A place of welcome’: Yorkshire town rallies round to help asylum seekers
Churches and community groups in Northallerton provide food, clothing and company for refugee families
www.ft.com
December 24, 2025 at 8:52 AM
A place of welcome: how Northallerton in Yorkshire is rallying around to help asylum seekers (FT)
www.ft.com/content/1d11...
www.ft.com/content/1d11...
Reposted by Kevin Marks
I expect US sanctions against @thierrybreton.bsky.social
to force the EU to reverse its deregulation wave, starting with the #digitalomnibus—a gift to US companies and an own goal for European consumer and citizen protection. www.reuters.com/legal/govern... @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
to force the EU to reverse its deregulation wave, starting with the #digitalomnibus—a gift to US companies and an own goal for European consumer and citizen protection. www.reuters.com/legal/govern... @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
US targets former EU commissioner, activists with visa bans over alleged censorship
The Trump administration on Tuesday imposed visa bans on a former European Union commissioner and anti-disinformation campaigners it says were involved in censoring U.S. social media platforms, in the...
www.reuters.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:54 AM
I expect US sanctions against @thierrybreton.bsky.social
to force the EU to reverse its deregulation wave, starting with the #digitalomnibus—a gift to US companies and an own goal for European consumer and citizen protection. www.reuters.com/legal/govern... @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
to force the EU to reverse its deregulation wave, starting with the #digitalomnibus—a gift to US companies and an own goal for European consumer and citizen protection. www.reuters.com/legal/govern... @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
Reposted by Kevin Marks
I have made a #DuvetKnowItsChristmas bingo card! And done alt text on it (as everyone else should, if they're able).
December 24, 2024 at 5:33 PM
I have made a #DuvetKnowItsChristmas bingo card! And done alt text on it (as everyone else should, if they're able).
Reposted by Kevin Marks
I used to teach an undergrad historical methods class and their favorite day was always the one where we listen to @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social telling Naomi Wolf (live, on air on the BBC) that she misinterpreted her data and based her whole book around something that didn’t happen
You’ll never guess who else experienced ‘racism’ on the job market despite their unimpeachable academic credentials.
December 19, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I used to teach an undergrad historical methods class and their favorite day was always the one where we listen to @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social telling Naomi Wolf (live, on air on the BBC) that she misinterpreted her data and based her whole book around something that didn’t happen
Reposted by Kevin Marks
watching my favorite christmas movie and what is possibly the great american comedy about class and race
December 24, 2025 at 12:18 AM
watching my favorite christmas movie and what is possibly the great american comedy about class and race
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Just filled out (at length!) this excellent survey about how SFWA should handle LLM/GenAI use in award eligibility.
It’s open to readers as well as writers so if you have serious & considered opinions plz fill it out, especially if you have edge cases to share that others may not have thought of.
It’s open to readers as well as writers so if you have serious & considered opinions plz fill it out, especially if you have edge cases to share that others may not have thought of.
SFWA members and general SFF community:
In this press release, our Board of Directors apologizes for recent events.
Feedback from writers is strongly welcomed in the survey.
SFWA Members: Write to office@sfwa.org to support our Emerging Tech Committee.
www.sfwa.org/2025/12/22/p...
In this press release, our Board of Directors apologizes for recent events.
Feedback from writers is strongly welcomed in the survey.
SFWA Members: Write to office@sfwa.org to support our Emerging Tech Committee.
www.sfwa.org/2025/12/22/p...
December 23, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Just filled out (at length!) this excellent survey about how SFWA should handle LLM/GenAI use in award eligibility.
It’s open to readers as well as writers so if you have serious & considered opinions plz fill it out, especially if you have edge cases to share that others may not have thought of.
It’s open to readers as well as writers so if you have serious & considered opinions plz fill it out, especially if you have edge cases to share that others may not have thought of.
The SFWA wants to hear your writing on the implications of LLMs for writing and culture. There is a survey with essay questions.
Write to them. It's how humans communicate thoughts and emotions.
www.sfwa.org/sfwa-survey-...
Write to them. It's how humans communicate thoughts and emotions.
www.sfwa.org/sfwa-survey-...
SFWA Survey on LLM Use in Industry - SFWA - The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
Thank you for participating in this survey. The data collected here is preliminary, not definitive, but it will help to […]
www.sfwa.org
December 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The SFWA wants to hear your writing on the implications of LLMs for writing and culture. There is a survey with essay questions.
Write to them. It's how humans communicate thoughts and emotions.
www.sfwa.org/sfwa-survey-...
Write to them. It's how humans communicate thoughts and emotions.
www.sfwa.org/sfwa-survey-...
December 23, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Reposted by Kevin Marks
It's funny that everyone who has *ever* programmed, knows how important attention to detail is. Hours wasted because you made a typo, forgot to add a character, etc.
The tiniest thing you literally don't notice is wrong, and your program screams at you and dies.
This is a universal experience.
The tiniest thing you literally don't notice is wrong, and your program screams at you and dies.
This is a universal experience.
December 23, 2025 at 7:16 AM
It's funny that everyone who has *ever* programmed, knows how important attention to detail is. Hours wasted because you made a typo, forgot to add a character, etc.
The tiniest thing you literally don't notice is wrong, and your program screams at you and dies.
This is a universal experience.
The tiniest thing you literally don't notice is wrong, and your program screams at you and dies.
This is a universal experience.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Rama Duwaji, New York City's next First Lady, on the joys of riding a Citi Bike:
December 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Rama Duwaji, New York City's next First Lady, on the joys of riding a Citi Bike:
Reposted by Kevin Marks
“Every bike in a bike lane is a car you don’t have to wait behind”
Are you a driver and want less traffic? Get all your neighbors on to bikes and transit.
December 23, 2025 at 4:42 PM
“Every bike in a bike lane is a car you don’t have to wait behind”
Reposted by Kevin Marks
so thank you, Bari, for streisanding this so hard that a bunch of terminally online 38 year olds who haven’t watched cable television since saturday morning cartoons are glued to fucking 60 minutes
you monumentally incompetent goon
you monumentally incompetent goon
December 23, 2025 at 3:26 AM
so thank you, Bari, for streisanding this so hard that a bunch of terminally online 38 year olds who haven’t watched cable television since saturday morning cartoons are glued to fucking 60 minutes
you monumentally incompetent goon
you monumentally incompetent goon
Reposted by Kevin Marks
more here: "Orga is not Mecha: How Literal Readings of
Fiction are Damaging the World" www.socialrobotfutures.com/themesissues...
Fiction are Damaging the World" www.socialrobotfutures.com/themesissues...
Myth, Fiction & Rhetoric
Feature Essay Orga Is Not Mecha: How Literal Readings of Fiction Are Damaging the World Abstract: This paper traces the fictional roots of recent claims by those in the AI industry that superintell…
www.socialrobotfutures.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:22 PM
more here: "Orga is not Mecha: How Literal Readings of
Fiction are Damaging the World" www.socialrobotfutures.com/themesissues...
Fiction are Damaging the World" www.socialrobotfutures.com/themesissues...
Reposted by Kevin Marks
It sometimes feels we're in a gish gallop (thank you en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenie...) against people much worse than creationists (who are already annoying AF) because they really have caused statistics to somehow be seen as omnipotent to the point where it is allowed to destroy people and planet.
But either way, the claims of AI being some amazing way to find "cures" are unscientific and damaging to our ability to discuss medical research. Modern AI is statistics and statistics just doesn't work that way (it cannot find cures); neither does clinical or any research (it cannot be automated).
December 22, 2025 at 7:31 AM
It sometimes feels we're in a gish gallop (thank you en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenie...) against people much worse than creationists (who are already annoying AF) because they really have caused statistics to somehow be seen as omnipotent to the point where it is allowed to destroy people and planet.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
Also screw the BBC for its naked agenda. It refused to carry a hugely expensive first ever YouGov survey we commissioned showing how awful trans lives in the UK have become because it was "not strong enough" but there's no piece of anti-trans hatred too petty for it to platform.
Total gaslighting. Anti-trans activist; chooses to speak in person, provoking students who want to protect trans rights; they exercise their freedom of speech to tell her she isn't wanted; she gets to speak anyway; the BBC dutifully platforms her again; and now she threatens to sue everyone.
University threatened with legal action after protest at event
Prof Alice Sullivan says her talk at the University of Bristol became like a
www.bbc.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Also screw the BBC for its naked agenda. It refused to carry a hugely expensive first ever YouGov survey we commissioned showing how awful trans lives in the UK have become because it was "not strong enough" but there's no piece of anti-trans hatred too petty for it to platform.
Abigail is chilling in her nest. She's calm there even if I go out now, as long as @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social is on, but as it's mostly carols today, I switched to Radio 3 Unwind, which is effectively Radio 3 lofi beats.
December 22, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Abigail is chilling in her nest. She's calm there even if I go out now, as long as @bbcradio3bot.bsky.social is on, but as it's mostly carols today, I switched to Radio 3 Unwind, which is effectively Radio 3 lofi beats.
Reposted by Kevin Marks
The work that scholars and researchers actually do is the work that people *think* AI is doing. You read all sorts of things. You make connections. You notice where the holes are — what *hasn’t* been observed, questioned, investigated. You synthesize it into something that has never existed before.
December 22, 2025 at 2:07 AM
The work that scholars and researchers actually do is the work that people *think* AI is doing. You read all sorts of things. You make connections. You notice where the holes are — what *hasn’t* been observed, questioned, investigated. You synthesize it into something that has never existed before.